Prey

Since the beginning of time, women have been seen as the lesser sex in most cultures. We are not seen as the powerhouses that we truly are, we are seen as weak and helpless. Men prey on us as if we are some prize to be won. If you are a woman you know this is true. From the time you are a young girl, your taught to smile, be pretty, stand tall, act lady like...your putting on a show. You are taught to seek a man, a good man that will take care of you. It is never questioned why it is you need to be taken care of in the first place? As a young girl, your mentally screwed from the very start. Most of us are because we have been taught that we need a man, seek one out that will take good care of you, you need to dress pretty for him but also modestly because you don't want to distract him. You are not taught that you are enough just as you are and can in fact take care of yourself or that you don't need a man but it is okay to want one or for that matter to want to be romantic with another girl. They also don't teach the little boys to control their own actions. No, that is left for us girls. We have to be tough, tuck those emotions under the rug, save face and be presentable in all occasions. As a young woman it unfortunately doesn't get much better. As you blossom and come into your womanhood suddenly your seen as prey. Boys will seek you out if they think your pretty. They try to take what is not theirs to take. You say no but they hear yes. Tell me girl, haven't you ever pulled your jacket tighter, looked at the floor and sped up your pace? Haven't you ever told a man to stop calling you baby just for him to call you crazy because he was simply being nice? Have you ever felt beaten and bruised by the hands of a man but couldn't see any physical signs? If you speak up, they say you've ruined his life. He's such a nice, upstanding citizen. How dare you? Don't you know your supposed to keep your mouth shut? Your called a bitch, tramp, slut, whore...spit on, cussed at...stay quiet girl. He's so nice. We're taught this. To stay quiet, stand tall, stay strong, we are the quiet warriors. We are supposed to remember our place in this world, in this patriarchy.

But...what if we don't? What if we break those chains of injustice? What if we taught our daughters instead to marry or not marry, that it is their choice? What if we told them the truth? That they are strong enough, intelligent enough, brave enough and capable to be alone if they choose to be. What if we taught them how to take care of themselves? Defend themselves? Walk tall, hold their heads high? To not cower and bend to the rules of this world? To teach them that their worth is equally as important as those of the fellow sex. That we were all made equally. What if we taught them to fight back? What if we gave them a voice? A platform on which to stand? What if we ended this patriarchy of injustice and gave matriarchy a chance to thrive? Or just ignite that fire inside our young girls hearts and minds so they know they don't have to feel like prey. What if we gave them a place to stand so they could feel like they are on the same playing field as everyone else? And if someone doesn't give them that opportunity they know how to take the opportunity they want anyway and they don't need anyone else to do it for them? Fellow women, that is the world I choose to live in. This is how I will raise my daughter. Rise up, you've been silent too long beautiful.